Category: NRHA

NRHA Webinar: A 180-Degree Turn in One Year: How a CAH went from the Brink of Closure to Expanding Services

March 17, 2025

NRHA Webinar: A 180-Degree Turn in One Year: How a CAH went from the Brink of Closure to Expanding Services

In one year, Monroe County Hospital went from financial instability to expanding services and strengthening its role in the community. This transformation wasn’t the result of new funding or external support – it came from a strategic leadership shift and operational changes that stabilized finances, improved efficiency, and positioned the hospital for long-term success.

In this session, Kerry Trapnell will share the key actions that made this turnaround possible, drawing from his 25 years of experience guiding rural hospitals through financial and operational improvements.

In this session, attendees will learn:

  • How Monroe County Hospital pinpointed critical risks and addressed them,
  • Key operational and financial changes that led to measurable improvements,
  • Challenges the leadership team navigated – and what made the difference, and
  • Strategies rural hospitals can apply to strengthen financial sustainability.

Cost: Free

When: Tuesday, March 25, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. CT

Click Here to Register

NRHA Webinar: Improving Outcomes for Behavioral Health and Substance Use Disorder Patients in Rural EDs, March 20

March 17, 2025

NRHA Webinar: Improving Outcomes for Behavioral Health and Substance Use Disorder Patients in Rural EDs, March 20

Rural emergency departments need practical, proven strategies to improve care for behavioral health and substance use disorder patients. This educational presentation delivers actionable solutions you can apply immediately. Carla Wilber, a rural healthcare leader with extensive experience in emergency care, quality im0provement, and care transitions, and Lindsay Hunt, a healthcare transformation expert who has designed national programs to improve behavioral health care in rural EDs, will share targeted approaches to strengthen patient care and streamline ED processes.

In this webinar you will learn:

  • Best practices to strengthen behavioral health care in rural EDs,
  • 1-2 immediate actions your hospital or health system can implement, and
  • How a new three-month virtual program can support your team in optimizing care.

This session is built for hospital and health system leaders ready to take the next step in improving emergency behavioral health care.

Cost: Free

When: Thursday, March 20, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. CT

Click Here to Register

Webinar Series: Building Rural Health Resilience through cybersecurity and AI: The Cyberlandscape, Starts March 19

March 14, 2025

Webinar Series: Building Rural Health Resilience through cybersecurity and AI: The Cyberlandscape, Starts March 19

Microsoft is hosting a webinar series on building rural health resilience through cybersecurity and AI starting at noon CDT, March 19. This webinar series was designed to empower rural healthcare organizations with the knowledge and tools needed to enhance cybersecurity and AI capabilities. Hosted by industry experts, each session will provide valuable insights into how technology can be leveraged to protect and innovate within rural health settings.

Webinar Series Schedule:

  • Rural health resilience through cybersecurity and AI: the cyberlandscape

Gain practical insights and strategies to manage user identities, secure access, and protect your hospital’s data through identity and access management (IAM)using Microsoft Entra ID. Learn how to implement multifactor authentication, conditional access policies, and continuous monitoring to ensure that only authorized personnel have access to critical systems and information.

Cost: Free

When: Wednesday, March 19, 12:00 p.m. – 12:40 p.m. CT

Click Here to Register

  • Understanding the security features of Microsoft Business Premium and Microsoft 365 ES and Microsoft 365 E5

Join this webinar to discover how Microsoft Business Premium, Microsoft 365 E3, and Microsoft 365 E5 can support your hospital’s cybersecurity through advanced security features, built-in compliance tools, and seamless integration capabilities to safeguard your organization against cyberattacks.

Cost: Free

When: Wednesday, April 9, 12:00 p.m. – 12:40 p.m.

Click Here to Register

  • Best practices in identity and access management using Microsoft Entra ID

Gain practical insights and strategies to manage user identities secure access, and protect your organization’s data through Identity and Access Management (IAM) using Microsoft Entra ID.

Cost: Free

When: Wednesday, May 14, 12:00 p.m. – 12:40 p.m. CT

Click Here to Register

  • Next level innovation for rural health: A CIO’s real-world example

Tune in to hear a rural chief information officer (CIO) share firsthand experiences in driving innovation with limited resources to help their organization achieve next-level innovation and improve patient outcomes.

Cost: Free

When: Wednesday, June 11, 12:00 p.m. – 12:40 p.m. CT

Click Here to Register

  • Lessons from a CAH cyberattack: Best practices for cybersecurity

Gain insights from a CIO’s real-life experience responding to a cyberattack at a Critical Access Hospital (CAH). This session will bring valuable lessons learned, best practices in cybersecurity incident response, and practical steps to improve your organization’s cyber resiliency.

Cost: Free

When: Wednesday, July 9, 12:00 p.m. – 12:40 p.m. CT

Click Here to Register

  • Best practices in endpoint management using Microsoft Intune

Join this webinar to learn how to plan, deploy, and operationalize device management, enforce security policies, and ensure compliance at your hospital with Endpoint Management using Microsoft Intune. By the end of this session, you’ll be equipped with the knowledge and tools needed to create a robust and secure device management strategy tailored to the unique needs of your hospital.

Cost: Free

When: Wednesday, August 13, 12:00 p.m. – 12:40 p.m. CT

Click Here to Register

  • Supporting rural health through AI innovation

Boost your hospital’s ability to adopt and use AI innovation to improve care delivery and operations. Hear from a Microsoft expert about the free AI training designed to equip both frontline and IT workers with the skills needed to fully harness the power of AI in their roles.

Cost: Free

When: Wednesday, September 10, 12:00 p.m. – 12:40 p.m.

Click Here to Register

  • Security transformation is cloud transformation

Learn about the benefits of moving to cloud-based security solutions and how to implement a successful cloud transformation strategy to provide robust protection against cyberthreats.

Cost: Free

When: Wednesday, October 8, 12:00 – 12:40 p.m. CT

Click Here to Register

Where the Physician Shortage is Headed – and What it Means

March 7, 2025

Where the Physician Shortage is Headed – and What it Means

According to a recent report, the shortfall of physicians could reach as high as 86,000 by the year 2036. NRHA COO Brock Slabach says rural areas are already affected by workforce shortages, with primary care in especially high demand. Subspecialties already experiencing a shortage are bracing for impact as demand for eye care and other categories exacerbate shortfalls.

Act soon to share your perspective in Stroudwater’s physician compensation survey.

Click Here to access the survey

Register Now! NRHA’s 48th Annual Rural Health Conference, Atlanta, GA, May 20 – 23

March 7, 2025

Register Now! NRHA’s 48th Annual Rural Health Conference, Atlanta, GA, May 20 – 23

The National Rural Health Association’s (NRHA’s) 48th Annual Rural Health Conference, 10th Rural Hospital Innovation Summit, and associated events constitute the nation’s largest gathering of rural health pros.

Join NRHA and hundreds of rural health leaders for more than 80 innovative, practical, and cost-saving sessions and much more.

Don’t miss NRHA’s expanded and renamed Rural Health Access Conference May 19 – 20 and Rural Medical Education Conference occurring immediately beforehand on May 20, along with NRHA’s Rural Health Awards ceremony and the CDC Experience tour May 22.

Click Here to Learn More and Register

Registration is Now Open: NRHA’s 48th Annual Conference

February 21, 2025

Registration is Now Open: NRHA’s 48th Annual Conference

Join the National Rural Health Association (NRHA) and hundreds of rural health leaders from across the country to help raise the standard for rural health with more than 80 innovative, practical, and cost-saving sessions and much more.

Don’t miss NRHA’s expanded Rural Health Equity Conference May 19 – 20 and Rural Medical Education Conference occurring immediately beforehand on May 20.

When: May 20 – 23, 2025

Where: Atlanta, GA

Click Here to See Agenda and Full Details of Conference

USDA Rural Hospital Technical Assistance

February 18, 2025

USDA Rural Hospital Technical Assistance

Through a cooperative agreement with the United State Department of Agriculture (USDA), the National Rural Health Association (NRHA) provides several types of assistance to rural hospitals selected in collaboration with USDA. Technical Assistance services will be provided under contract with NRHA by selected contractors who specialize in the types of services outlined below.

Process and Criteria

Through NRHA, USDA will provide selected rural hospitals with TA services to identify and address health care needs and strengthen the local health care system.

The goal is to:

  • Enhance hospital systems for improved efficiency and financial performance,
  • Bolster quality of care, and
  • Support the community.

Prior to selection, hospitals will be interviewed by NRHA and complete an initial assessment to identify TA services needed. The total number of projects will be limited by cooperative agreement funding.

Project Goals

Possible project goals may include:

  1. Improving financial position and increasing operational efficiencies
  2. Implementing quality improvements that support an evidenced-based culture for improved health outcomes.
  3. Increasing use of telehealth to fill service gaps and improve access to care.
  4. Strengthening the local health care delivery system to position for population health.
  5. Providing hospital board training through NRHA’s certification program.

For more information and to see if your hospital qualifies, or to refer a hospital that would benefit from technical assistance, fill out the referral form and NRHA staff will follow up.

Contact Mory Bell, mbell@ruralhealth.us for more information and assistance.

Click Here to Access Referral Form

NRHA Webinar: How Critical Access Hospitals Like Grand River Health are Overcoming Staffing and Compliance Challenges with DCM Outsourcing, February 25

February 7, 2025

NRHA Webinar: How Critical Access Hospitals Like Grand River Health are Overcoming Staffing and Compliance Challenges with DCM Outsourcing, February 25

Weighing the impact of recruiting qualified talent and managing the cost of training and retaining resources, Grand River Health leaned on their Partners to guide their exciting transformation.

Grand River Health Controller, Theresa Wagenman, and industry expert Melissa Burris will share insights on overcoming these challenges, achieving compliance, and improving financial sustainability.

Join this webinar to explore how outsourcing their Charge Description Master (CDM) process provided a sustainable solution.

This session is perfect for rural healthcare leaders and financial professionals looking to enhance compliance, efficiency, and financial health through sustainable CDM practices.

Cost: Free

When: Tuesday, February 25, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Click Here to Register

NRHA Webinar: Swing Bed Culture and Attention to Wellness Vital to Rural Healthcare, A Transitional Care Model, February 20

February 7, 2025

NRHA Webinar: Swing Bed Culture and Attention to Wellness Vital to Rural Healthcare, A Transitional Care Model, February 20

Join this webinar to learn how over 100 Critical Access Hospitals both independent and not, have cared for over 17,000 patients representing more than 244,000 swing bed days.

These 100+ facilities saw an average growth in swing bed days of 47% by the second year.

  • 65% of patients were categorized as complex medical or complex surgical which is a growing patient population.
  • Only 7% of Transitional Care patients were discharged directly back to acute care during a program stay of less than 30 days.
  • 77% of patients were discharged from Transitional Care back to independence.
  • The average patient rating was 4.83 out of 5 when asked if patients would “recommend the program to others”.

Cost: Free

When: Thursday, February 20, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Click Here to Register

New JRH Brief Report: “Everything cannot be handled virtually”

February 7, 2025

New JRH Brief Report: “Everything cannot be handled virtually”

This qualitative study assessed internet access and use, barriers, and facilitators to participating in digital health interventions or programs, and the engagement experience in virtual versus in-person health interventions among rural adults and rural cancer survivors.

Conclusions

Findings from this qualitative study provide an in-depth understanding of the intricate experiences of rural adults and rural cancer survivors when engaging with digital health technologies.

Integrating the experiences of rural adults and rural cancer survivors may aid in developing clinical and community-based interventions and policies that support increasing access to digital health services and programs for rural communities.

Click Here to read full report